Basket carriage



April 18, 1939. ST. JgzuMwNKEL V 5 4 BASKET, ARRI-AGE Filed Sept. 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l m INVENTOR. I HELEN .STJOHNZUM W/NKEL BY J HER TTORNEXS.

A ril 18, 1939. sT. J. ZUMWINKEL BASKET CARRIAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1938 L .M T N W mz N W w S m L E H HERATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED smas PATENT OFFICE 2',54,soo I nasr'r CARRIAGE Helen S t. John Zinwlnkel, Webster Groves, Mo. Application September 16, 1938, Serial No. %0,174 4 C lalms. c. aso-41 This inventicn relates to a carriage for baskets of a type adapted for pick-up assistance in a self-service market. N

An object of this invention is to provide' a carriage capable of holding two baskets which will be collapsible, and which will be economical in construction and sturdy in service.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in connection with such a carriage for ren moving and collapsing the upper portion of such a carriage to permit access to a lower basket.

Other and specific' obiects will be apparent from the following detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe carriage without the baskets; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation: Fig. 3 is a detail showing the pivot connection; and Fig. 4 is a detail of a bracing element.

The carriage includes a substantially rectangular' !rame l, a lower U-frame 2 and an upper U-frame 3, all of which are pivoted together by The !rame l includes side members 5, a lower cross member 8, intermediate cross members or bars 'I and 8, and a top cross member or handle bar 9. i

The U-frame 2 comprises a pair of side members o and a lower cross member Il. i

'I'he upper U-frame 3 includes a pairof side members l2, an intermediate cross member 13, and a top cross member |4.

plementary U-frmes 2 and 3 comprises in e'ffect a pair of scissor frames pivoted by the pins 4. A perfectly practical structure can be made, and has been made, by making the U-frames 2 and 3 integral with each other. g Means are provided for limiting movement of the frames I. 2 and 3 with respect to each other, while permitting them to be col lapsed. The means speciflcally illustrated in- 4 5 cludes a plate I! having outwardly extending ears s, I'I, 13 and s. The ears'ls and l'l engage 'opposite edges of a side member 5 of the !rame I; the ear s engages an edge of a side member o of the U-frame 2:. and the ear ls engages the bottom edge of a side member l2 of the U-frame 3. Other aceptable means are known in the art for limiting the extended portlon of the frames. The upper'u frame 3 may be moved, as shown in dotted lines, Flg. 2, to provide access to a lower basket, and the lower U'-frame 2 may be col- The rectangular frame member l with the comthe outward a lapsed' so the device occupies a small space. when not in use.

While, as speciflcally shown, the frame 3 is atta'ched to the structure by the pivot 4 which pivots the frames l'and 2 together, it may be* un- 5 derstood that the frame 3 may be independently pivoted to the frame 2 or to the frame I while securing substantially the same result, although the structure as speciflcally shown in this respect is preferable. 10

Rollers 20 are Secured by brackets 2| to the cross members 6 and ll on the frames l and 2. The particular structure and arrangement of these rollers is not a part of this invention. As speciflcally shown, all of' the brackets 2l are piv- 15 oted to the frame members, but this may be so or not, according to individual preference. Or three' rollers may be used instead of four.

The .cross members 8 and ll are arranged to engage the bottom of and form a support for a zo lower basket or container 22 while the cross members 'l and |3 form a support for an upper basket 23. r

Displaoement of the'lower basket 22 is prevented by lugs 24, supported bybrackets 23, carried 2 respectiveiy by the cross members B and Il. The lugs 24 are adapted to engage in the mesh of wire forming the bottom of the basket 22. When the lugs' 24 are in engagement in the mesh of the basket, accidental collapsing of the frames so I and 2 with respect to each other is th'ereby prevented.

The upper basket is so proportioned that its side walls engage the edges of the cross members and l4, thereby preventing endwise displace 35 ment of the basket and also when in position holding the frames I and 3 in extended position with reference to each other.

It has been previously stated that the frames 2 and 3 may be integral; But when they are sep- 40 aratelyhinged to the structure a convenient function is provided, as best shown in Flg. 2. Thus the top basket 23 may be removed and the frame 3 folded back, as ,shown in dotted lines Fig. 2, to, provide more ready access to the lower basa ket 22. v

' It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of theappended claims, and that parte o! the invention may be used without the whole. go

'. I'claim: v

1. In a carriage of the character described, a pair of scissor frames collapsibly pivoted together near their central portion, supports on the frames above and below the xpivot respectively for re- .ll

movble continers. and means on the frames adicent said supports for enagement with the contalners to prevent their lengthwise displacement and to hold the frames in extended position.

2. In a carrice of the character described. a pair of scissor frames collapsibly p'ivoted together near their central portion, supporting cross members on the frames respectively at two levels.

above and below the pivot. for' engagement with the bottom of removable containers, and upwardly extending luss attached to the lower part of the frames for engaging in a wire mesh bottom of the lower container. I p

3. A carrlce of the character described having a rectanzular frame. a lower U-frame pivoted' to' the central portion of the rectangular frame, roller occured on the bottom of said frames. an upper U-framepivoted to the aforcsaid structure. supports on' the lower part of the rectangular !rame and the lower U-frame for a removable container, and supports on the uppe'r part of the rectangular !rame and the upper U-frame for a second removable container.

4. A carriage of thecharacter described having a rectangular frame, a lower U-frame and an upper U-i'r'ame pivoted to the central portion of the rectangular frame, means for limitin; the extended position of said frames while permitting the U-frames to be collapsed independently, and cross members on the frames above and below the pivot for supporting con'tainers on two levels one above the pivot and one below,

' ELEN s'r. JOHN z 

